9 Al Qaeda fighters killed in Yemen missile attack

SANAA, Yemen – Yemen military officials say nine Al Qaeda fighters have been killed in a missile attack on a house in a southern town.

The officials say the early Wednesday attack also destroyed a car parked near the house in Azan town in Shabwa province, a hotbed for Al Qaeda militants. They say the missile attack was believed to be a drone airstrike.

The officials say some militants who fled the town of Jaar, which was recaptured by government troops and tribal fighters on Tuesday, had taken refuge in Azan. Those fleeing left spray-painting walls and store shutters with slogans in red saying, "Al Qaeda has withdrawn. Al Qaeda was not defeated."

Tuesday's operation also routed militants from Zinjibar, another Al Qaeda stronghold. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in line with army regulations.